Reduction drive mechanism



Feb. 1943- J. w. KlN ucAN 2,309,908

REDUCTION DRIVE MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 1, 1959 4 Sheet-Sheet 1Feb. 2, 1943.

J. W. KINNUCAN REDUCTION DRIVE MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 1, 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

@760725 Minna/car REDUCTION DRIVE MECHANI SM Original Filed Sept. 1/19594 shetsvsheet 5 Feb. 2, 1943. J w. KINNUCAN 2,309,908

REDUCTION DRIVE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 E N x h\\ HvTOR Patented Feb.2, 1943 REDUCTION DRIVE MECHANISM 7 James W. Kinnucan, Detroit, Mich.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Continental Aviation and EngineeringCorporation, a corporation of Virginia Original application September 1,1939, Serial No. 293,098. Divided and this application February 8, 1940,Serial No. 317,908

8 Claims.

My invention relates to engines and more particularly to a reductiongear drive for engines or other similar power plants.

Much difi'iculty has been experienced in constructing reduction drivesthat are rugged enough to stand up in the present day high speed andhigh powered engines as employed today in aircraft. It is essential thatthese reduction drives be very compact andas light in weight as ispossible consistent with sound engineering practice.

After many years of study of this most diffi-' cult problem, I havesucceeded in'constructing a rugged and efficient reduction gear drivethat has effectively overcome the difficulties heretofore experiencedwith reduction drives more particularly incorporated with aircraftengines.

A further object of my present invention is to insure efiicientperformance of my improved heavy duty reduction gear drive by providingimproved lubricating means that insures proper lubrication of all movingparts of the mechanism.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide a compact,rugged, light weight reduction gear drive adapted to be embodied in thepresent day high powered and high speed aeronautical engines which aremore particularly designed for long life and for maintenance freeservice.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention in which like characters refer to like parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front end of an aeronauticalengine, with a portion thereof being broken away to show my improvedreduction gear drive in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reduction gear drive andshowing the structural relationship of the various cooperating parts ofthe mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken substantially on theline3-3 of Fig; 2,

. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showingmy improved unitary reduction gear drive adjusted for a different speedreduction between the driving and driven.

members of the engine, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of thereduction gear drive illustrated in Fig. 2.

The present application is a divisional application of my co-pendingapplication for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 293,098filed September 1, 1939, now Patent No. 2,253,977.

I have selected for purposes of illustration to show my reduction geardrive, designated as a whole by the reference character A, with aninternal combustion engine B having a crankshaft Ill. The crankshaft issupported in a conventional manner and preferably includes a crankshaftextension I I, which is externally splined as at l2 to drivingly connectwith an internally splined shaft or driving sleeve [3. A driving memberI4 is splined to the sleeve i3 as at [5 and carries an externallysplined portion I 6 substantially adjacent the outer periphery thereof.

A driven member I! is supported by suitable bearings in the nose of thegear case I8 and at' its inner end is preferably supported by a bearingl9 carried in the case. Bearing Isa is a bearing or steady rest forsleeve l3. This driven member is externally splined as at to engagecomplementary internal splines carried by the carrier C. A fixed ring 21is secured to the gear case as at 22 or by other suitable securingmeans, and. saidring is provided with an externally splined portion 23of like construction to the externally splined portion l6 carried by thedriving member M. It will be noted that these external splines 23 and I6 are aligned and axially spaced, and are of the same pitch diameter.

My, improved and novel reduction gear drive comprises in general thecarrier 0 which is drivingly connected to the driven member I! and othergearing as follows. A pair of axially spaced and aligned ring gearstructures 24 and 25 (see Fig.- 2) are connected in driving relationwith the driving member M and fixed ring or support 2| respectively,these ring gears being preferably provided with the internal splines 26and 2'! respectively, which are complementary to the splines l6 and 23.Said splines 26 and 27 are-identical and of the same pitch diameter andare constructed andarranged for selective engagement in driving relationwith either of said splines l6 and 23. Y

The carrier C is provided with a plurality of radially extendingintegral spindles 30 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4), and the axis of 'eachspindle extends at an angle to a plane extending normal to the carrieraxis, the inclination of each spin dle being the same in each instance.A bearing sleeve 3| is fitted on each spindle and rotatably supportsabeveled idler or intermediate gear 32,

said intermediate gears being preferably secured on said spindles byretainer nuts 33 and rier C for rotatably supporting these ring gears,"and it will thus be seen that the carrier. spin dles, intermediate andring gears form :a unitary assembly.

In the operation of my reduction gear drive it will be noted thereduction is obtainedthrough caused to fly oil this lip and isconsequently directed to'impinge directly onto the beveled gear 7 32 atthe point of mesh with the ring gears,

the ring gear 2-5 and idler or intermediate gears v 32, which are causedto roll on the fixed gear '25" j and thus rotate the carrier C and thedriven member i'i drivingly connected with the-said carrier.

The ..driving connection between the carrier C and. the driven member His so arranged as to permit an assembly of the unitary reduction geardrive end for end (see Fig. 4) which brings the ringfgear into drivingrelation with-the driving'member and the ring gear 24 into interlockingengagement with the fixed ring or support iii. The carrier is reversedend for end and likewise the spindles, so that the idler or in-.termediate gears still remain in mesh with the ring gears. In theparticular proportions embodied in this construction, the arrangement i1lustrated in Fig.2"pr'ovidesfa reduction from the driving to "the drivenmembers of 2.2 to l while. that illustrated'in Fig 4 provides areductionioi 1.8 to 1. Obviously the proportions may'be varied to suitvarious applications. The adjustment and varying of the reduction driveis had by reason of the symmetrical construction that permits theselective engagement of the driving member M with either ring gear.-

The; above described mechanism 'is particularly'described and claimed inmy co-pending application, Serial.Number 293,098jfiled September l,1939, andthe present application relates to the lubrication of the idleror. inter mediate ring gear bearings. hollow'as shown at .40 and apassage M in the carrier C "connects'this chamber 40, with the main,engine lubrication system, and lubricant is fed into the chamber 40which'forms a lubri cant reservoir from said main lubrication 'system'by reason of the interconnecting passages" iiau lib, tic, Md and Me.A lateral passage 42,"

connects this reservoir with the annular groove 50 connecting with oilpassage 43 carried inthe This passage is preferably sleeve'bearing 3i.formed; by the normal operating clearance-between the sleeve 3i andspindle 38; The lubricent is induced to travel through the lateral Thespindle 30 is passage'H and outwardly through the passage 43 bycentrifugal'forces induced by the rotation of the carrier C. It will benoted'that the pas-' sage 43 communicates withthe reservoir at a pointnear the inner end of the. reservoir and substantially adjacent theinner end of said sleeve bearing 3|. Most of the lubricant is of courseinduced to flow radially outwardly to adequately lubricate the bearingsurface. Some of the lubricant will seep inwardly along the sleeve.bearing suriaceandthus the entire'bearing surface isadequatelylubricated at all times.

The inclination of the' spindles. andthe' location of the. communicatingpassage .of .port .42. 'cowhereiubrication is needed most. In fact theidler gears t2'are substantially drenched in 011 while the engineisoperating due to movement of the carrier 0. The ring gears arelubricated at the. points wherethey mesh with the idler gears- The"abovearrangement has resulted in the provision of a practical andsuccessful reduction gear mechanism in which adequate lubrication isassured.

The gear. case is preferably providedwitha de tent 53' positionedimmediately above the 'stationary ring gear, The'lubricatingioilWhich-is thrown oiT of the gearing tends to flowdown'the. Wall or the case and is collected on -this 'detent." andcaused to drip directly on said stationary ring;

gear.-

Itwill thus be notedthatl have provided an: eiiicient 'yet simplelubricating means especially; suited to a reduction gear drive of thecharacter described, and that the lubricating oil is caused to flowdirectly-to the parts to be lubri cated.- 7

It will thus be observed that I have provided a construction whichis'compact'and serviceable;- and which employs a minimum of movingparts,:; so constructedand arranged as to be thoroughlyz lubricatedatall times under various conditions of engine operation. Myconstruction isreadily assembled to an engine and may at any timebez- Ireadily serviced if necessary with a minimum-i The drive is readilyreversed and-i's;--

of cost. thus adaptable for use with various types Oren-'- gmes.

Referring more particularly to Figs; 2 and 4 illustrating respectivelythe two portions of the gearing-it will be noted'that'the carrier C isturned. end for end. The relationship of the extending along the pitchlineof the gear teeth;

of ring gear 25 at a point Pin Fig.2 and PI" in Fig.4. The center lineor axis 0 oi-each of the idler gears 32also intersects theselines a andb at point P in Fig.2 and PI- inFig. 4 on-the y carrier axis. Theaxialdistancebetween 'shoul ders andfil is represented in'Figs -2 and 4by the line (d plus 6), in which d in both in;

stances represents the axial distance-fromshoule der 6| to theintersection of lines a, b and 0 while e in both instances representsthe'axialdistance" from shoulder 60 to the intersection of linesa; b ande.

It willbe noted that'the'distancesd and e are the same in both-Figs. 2and 4. The above re- I lationship must always hold true if the carrierCis to'be allowed to be turned-end forend as here in illustrated, and-theshoulders '60and fil' bear a fixed relation with respect to the-fixedring 2! and driving member I4 at either position, that:

is, shoulder 60 (Fig. 2) is axially spaced a distance f fromthe centerof gear 23 and shoulder 6| is spaced the same distance j from gear [6.Thus on reversal of the carrier C as in Fig. 4, it will be noted thatshoulder 60 is spaced a distance 1 from gear [6 while shoulder 6| isspaced a like distance I from gear 2 It will be apparent that thelubricating system herein described is applicable to either assembly ofthe mechanism as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the lubricant conduitsbeing so constructed and arranged as to function to convey the lubricantto the parts to be lubricated without the addition or rearrangement ofany oil ducts or connections.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and disclosedbut one adaptation thereof, it will be readily apparent that same may beembodied in other applications and modified as to construction withoutdeparting from the principles of my invention or from the spirit of theclaims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A lubrication system for a gear reduction drive including driving anddriven members, gear reduction mechanism including a pair of ring gears,a fixed support, one of said ring gears secured to the fixed support andthe other drivingly connected to the driving member, a carrier drivinglyconnected with the driven member and provided with a plurality ofspindles, an idler gear and a bearing therefor rotatably mounting sameon each of said spindles, each of said spindles having an annular troughlocated substantially concentric with and adjacent to the inner end faceof said idler gears, and comprising means for feeding a lubricant to thespindle to lubricate the idler gear bearing and to said annular trough,and means for discharging the lubricant from said trough directly ontothe teeth of said idler gear during engine operation.

2. A lubrication system for a gear reduction drive including driving anddriven members, gear reduction mechanism including a pair of ring gears,a fixed support, one of said ring gears secured to the fixed support andthe other drivingly connected to the driving member, a carrier drivinglyconnected with the driven member and provided with a plurality ofspindles, an-idler gear and a bearing therefor rotatably mounting sameon each of said spindles, each of said spindles having an annular troughlocated substantially concentric with and adjacent to the inner end faceof said idler gears, and comprising means for feeding a lubricant to thespindle to lubricate the idler gear bearing, said bearing having apredetermined operating clearance with respect to the spindle to permitseepage of the lubricant from said bearing to said annular trough, andmeans for discharging the lubricant from said trough directly onto theteeth of said idler gear during engine operation.

3. A lubrication system for a gear reduction drive including driving anddriven members, gear reduction mechanism including a pair of ring gears,a fixed support, one of said ring gears secured to the fixed support andthe other drivingly connected to the driving member, a carrier drivinglyconnected with the driven member and provided with a plurality ofspindles, an idler gear and a bearing therefor rotatably mounting sameon each of said spindles, each of said spindles having an annular troughlocated substantially concentric with and adjacent to the inner end faceof said idler gears, and comprising means for feeding a lubricant to thespindle to lubricate the idler gear bearing saidbearing having apredetermined operating clearance withrespect to the spindle to permitseepage of the lubricant from said bearing to said annular trough, andmeans responsive to centrifugal forces induced by rotation of thecarrier for discharging the lubricant from said trough directly onto theteeth of said idler gear during engine operation.

4. A lubrication system for a gear reduction drive including driving anddriven members, gear reduction mechanism including a pair of ring gears,a fixed support, one of said ring gears secured to the fixed support andthe other drivingly connected to the driving member, a carrier drivinglyconnected with the driven member and provided with a plurality ofspindles, an idler gear and a bearing therefor rotatably mounting sameon each of said spindles, each of said spindles having an annular troughlocated substantially concentric withand adjacent to the inner end faceof said idler gears, and comprising means for feeding a lubricant to thespindle to lubricate the idler gear bearing, said bearing having apredetermined operating clearance with respect to the spindle to permitseepage of the lubricant from said bearing to said annular trough, saidtrough having a peripheral lip located substantially in alignment withthe idler gear teeth whereby to direct said lubricant onto said idlergear teeth during engine operation as said lubricant is discharged fromsaid trough by the centrifugal forces induced by rotation of thecarrier.

5. A lubrication system for a reduction gear drive comprising aplanetary gear mechanism including a one-piece integral intermediategear supporting carrier structure having a hub portion and a pluralityof gear supporting spindles extending radially from said hub portion,each spindle having an integral flange forming an annular troughencircling the spindle substantially adjacent the base of the spindle,and comprising a structure provided with lubricating oil passagesconstructed and arranged for conducting a lubricating oil to saidannular trough.

6. A lubrication system for a reduction gear drive of the planetary typeincluding beveled ring gears and one or more intermediate idler gearsmeshing with said ring gears, and comprising a rotatably supportedcarrier structure rotatably supporting said intermediate idler gears andincluding an idler gear spindle having an annular lubricant troughadjacent the base of said spindle, said trough provided with an annularlip portion adjacent the inner end of the idler gear teeth, and meansfor feeding lubricating oil to said annular trough.

7. A lubrication system for a reduction gear drive of the planetary typeincluding beveled ring gears and a revolving carrier provided withradially extending spindles, idler gears rotatably supported by saidspindles in meshing engagement with said ring gears, and comprising alubricant reservoir within each of said spindles, means for supplyinglubricating oil to said reservoirs, and conducting means conductinglubricating oil from said reservoirs direct to the beveled teeth of saididler gears, and including an annular trough located at the base of eachspindle and lubricant passages connecting said trough with saidassociated reservoir.

8. A lubrication system for a reduction gear drive of the planetary typeincluding beveled ring gears and a revolving carrier provided withradi'tfiy jextnding lspindlgs, id'ler gefa rs fotajtaldly annular troughloc'ated atthe-base"of-each"spinsupp brted by said spindles m ms'h'ineiig'agedle and lubricantibassages 'cqn'n'ecting saidftrdilg'h 'm'ntwith said ring "gears, :anql comprising a with'said-associateqreservoir, said trqughprohibridant resexivqir withi'nea'ch of saidspindles, vided with an-annu1a r lip substantially it its means f orsupplying lupricating 'oiltq said r'eser- 5 peripheraledgea'ndin-juxtaposition-to the inner oits, and conducting-meansconfiugzting lubriend portion of saidbeveledidler gearteeth. grating 11from said res' rvoiisdireCt tpthebe'v- 7 v V I v eled teeth of saididler "gears, and in'cluding an JAMES W. KINNUCAN.

